It is truly beautiful, the lake that we live on. We will miss the beauty of it here in the warm months, the quietness and the wildlife. However, we’ll never miss the mortgage and no matter how comfortable we may get here we are still awaiting the day when our Father will move us. In the meantime, here are some beautiful pictures to share: See how shallow and pleasant it is to walk through the waters? It’s still too cold to do so but it won’t be long. One day after their studies, the kids came down here and played all day long making trails for water to flow through and roads for their trains and such. Here they are showing me some of their creations. Lots of hard work… So peaceful looking…

Here’s the latest ultrasound picture of Benjamin taken a couple of weeks ago. My next appointment is on the 7th of May. It’s hard to believe he’d be here only two months later! The time is going by so quick now.

I had an appointment yesterday. All was well with the Quad Screen test. No genetic defects, etc… I think that’s pretty good for my age. The doctor did note though that my placenta is already starting to deposit bits of calcium on it. He called it a calcified placenta. Most women start getting a calcified placenta right at the end of pregnancy… many have calcium deposits on it after a late delivery at 42 weeks. I am only 25 weeks but I guess I am getting old. The placenta doesn’t quite have it in it to do the job without tiring out. : ) It is actually in a state of deterioration already which means that it could compromise the health of the baby as it more calcium deposits build, less oxygen and nutrition for baby. He did share that it’s normal for my age and he wants to access how the baby’s growth is from here on out. So, I will go back in 3 weeks for a check on his growth.

Next, they will have me go in for non-stress tests bi-weekly then weekly… again, due to my age as there is a sharp increase in stillbirths especially right towards the end of pregnancy. He shared that often the baby is fine one day and gone the next. I didn’t like hearing that. : ( I do have a doppler so you can bet that I will be listening to the baby more and more as the latter end of pregnancy approaches. I still think back to all the appointments of ultrasounds with the twins to check for twin to twin transfusion and how when they shared they wanted me to go in for non-stress tests that I being exhausted from pregnancy, the move, trying to sell another home and all of the appointments, I wasn’t going to go in for the tests. It was just. too. much. I went upstairs for my daily prayer one morning and the Lord asked me if I would regret not going in one or both of the babies perished. I knew then to go in. It was the 2nd or 3rd time that they found Anna’s heart rate was going from 190 and plummeting down to 60. Thank God for my inconvenience of going in. Thank God the Lord speaks and His people hear! I know there’s nothing I can do for this baby as there’s nothing I could do for the others. I can only listen for Him and obey Him when He tells me to do something. We can have rest when we follow Him knowing we were following Him even when bad things happen. It’s when we don’t listen to Him that our hearts break as Matthew and I have learned in coming back to Washington and buying this home. We’re getting there Lord but only because of You!

So, I am not panicking about my doctor’s visit, just concerned and hoping that if this is my last pregnancy that He will be born healthy. I can see how the Lord even has His timing in a woman’s fertility. She only has so many years and things start to decline. Then when her babies are ready to move into early childhood, where she cannot have anymore, she has grandchildren (if she has older children). Many of my friends are grandmothers and are having their last babies. It’s neat to see how things have been for all man’s time on earth. We didn’t all get here by families having one or two children. We think it’s normal but it’s really not. I am so thankful to have had all of these children. I was 35 when we married and really thought I was finished with my two older ones. I can’t imagine not having the life I have now. It’s like a brand new life, everything. I just love it. Thanks for reading while I just share my thoughts. I have a cute ultrasound picture of Benjamin as soon as my battery charges.

One morning the kids were eating breakfast and they shared with Matthew and I that there was a goose in the tree outside the window. Sure enough we looked out to see a goose in the tree up a good 30+ feet up. Something must have startled him to take such a flight.

He kept calling to his friends as if to think that they might come up there to save him. Then the kids shared a few minutes later that he flew down to the water. Some of our eggs. When I went back to the Western side of Washington last year to visit my grandmother, she gave me a little money afterwards. The kids and I stopped by a farm and bought many Buff Orpingtons. They are a pretty chicken, beige in color and calm in temperament. They are also some of the best layers and a good meat eating bird. So far, they are my favorite chicken. We waited all year for them to start laying and they had just started getting into a good laying pattern when we decided to let them out to roam for the spring. The brisk cold was gone but that didn’t stop a hungry hawk or eagle nearby. We lost several birds and knew then that we couldn’t let them all out again so sadly we had to slaughter half of them. We can only build so much fencing for them to roam without getting eaten and knew that this was the best solution. : ( I have recently bought Aracauna chicks (ugly birds that lay blue eggs and not very often) as they were local and we also bought a bunny rabbit. I stopped by an antique store a few weeks ago and there was a box of beautiful bunny rabbits. I always wanted a bunny for Matthew and I – Oh, I mean the kids. ; ) I’ll take pictures of him too as soon as my battery in the camera gets charged.

Trying out the office for home schooling. I have everything here… even the old school desks that we bought in Iowa so I thought I would try something new. We’ll either stay here or go back to the kitchen table. Whatever works best. I am still working out the home schooling. I think I will do away with the dictation and maybe go with English as it does require much writing, easy writing. I do like using the one curriculum and knowing what we’re all doing every morning. Mom and dad need it simple for us – and simple for the kids. Less complication, less fuss. I think we’ll have it all rounded out before Benjamin is born.

I’d like to buy four baskets to put in the bookcase to the right so that I can have each of their daily books and workbooks in each basket.